In a recent stand-up comedy video, stand-up comic Faiyaz Hussain found himself at the center of controversy after making a joke about EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers). The incident has sparked a heated reaction from the Dravidianist supporters on social media, leading to a wave of harassment directed at the stand-up comic.
The EVR grandsons and grand daughters of TN have cracked 1000s of rotten jokes on Hindu Gods and Brahmins.
They can’t take this one joke and are harassing this stand up comedian. pic.twitter.com/zIwvc9OQUT
— Indhavaainko (இந்தாவாய்ங்கோ) 👊 (@indhavaainko) July 15, 2024
During his performance, Faiyaz Hussain engaged with a couple in the audience, asking them about their first meeting. When the couple revealed they met on a matrimony site, Faiyaz Hussain humorously probed further, inquiring, “What did you like about her? Like Nadar community or something?” The couple responded, “I searched for Periyarist matrimony, but it doesn’t exist.” Faiyaz Hussain then quipped, “What sir? How can we marry our own daughter?” Despite the cheers and laughter from the crowd, he quickly clarified that it was just a joke.
However, the joke did not sit well with the Dravidianist supporters, who perceived it as disrespectful to EV Ramasamy, hailed as Periyar in TN. The backlash was swift and intense, with many calling for a case to be registered against the stand-up comic.
In response to the mounting online hate, Faiyaz Hussain issued a statement, “A recent video of mine about ‘Periyar’ has done a lot of things to me & the Tamil community that I didn’t expect it to go down like this. The video is taken down on IG & the part of that joke will be removed from the YouTube video by tonight or tomorrow. I’ll come up with an explanation/apology video by tonight or tomorrow. Shows will continue to happen post that. Let’s hope for the best 🙂 And for the people who tried to frame me as a Sanghi/Pacha or an extremist, y’all deserve nothing but the best cause now I have an opportunity to bite you back.”
— KishoreIyer (@KishoreIyer5) July 15, 2024
On 15 July 2024, he also posted a video on his Facebook page apologising for making the “joke” and called it a mistake.
The incident has highlighted the double standards in the comedy world, where jokes about certain figures and communities are often more scrutinized than others. Many stand-up comics have built their careers by cracking jokes about the Hindu community and their deities without facing significant backlash. In contrast, Faiyaz Hussain’s joke about EVR has put him in great trouble.
Indu Makkal Katchi criticized the apology issued by Faiyaz and wrote, “Is it enjoyable making jokes about Hinduism in your stand-up comedy, dear Faiyaz Hussain. Imagine the consequences if a Hindu comic made similar remarks about Prophet Muhammad.”
இந்து மதத்தை பற்றி மட்டும் பேசி ஸ்டாண்ட் அப் காமெடி பண்ண இனிக்குதா டேய் !! Fiyaz கண்ணா,
இதே இது ஒரு இந்து உங்க நபிகள் நாயகத்தை பத்தி பேசி இருந்தா ஸ்டாண்ட் அப் காமெடில என்ன ஆயிருக்கும் என்று கொஞ்சம் யோசனை பண்ணி பாருடா .. pic.twitter.com/i4hdmgXBte
— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl) 🇮🇳 (@Indumakalktchi) July 15, 2024
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